Council approves amendment to 2022 GO bond to clarify $5 million courthouse allocation

County staff presented a proposed amendment to the 2022 general-obligation bond ordinance and asked the council to clarify which county buildings the bond proceeds could fund.

The existing bond language authorized up to $5,815,000 with $5 million for courthouse improvements and the remainder for capital improvements to county-owned property. Staff said ARPA funds had been used first to pay some courthouse costs and that amending the ordinance to specify the courthouse, justice center and office building would simplify billing and accounting for the project.

A speaker identified as Susan said the county has already spent or committed $5.4 million on courthouse work and that, overall, the three-building project budget totals $9.4 million when combined with ARPA commitments. Commissioners present told the council they were comfortable limiting or clarifying use of bond proceeds as proposed.

Council members moved and seconded an amendment that would state $5 million is for the courthouse, justice center and office building and $815,000 is available for other county-owned property; the amendment was seconded and the motion carried.

Councilors discussed potential arbitrage and the timing of bond proceeds versus ARPA spending, and noted staff would consult Baker Tilly on arbitrage calculations and any timing requirements. The council approved the amended language to ease vendor payments and to allow the bond proceeds to be used across the named buildings.